Cologne, Germany (dpa) - Even in the autumn months children should
spend time each day in the open air to keep up their reserves of
vitamin D.
"Regular, measured exposure to sunlight is an important source of
vitamin D for the body," explains Ulrich Fegeler of Germany's
Association of Paediatricians and Youth Medicine.
Just 15 to 20 minutes a day is sufficient and only the face, hands
and lower arms - without sun cream - need be exposed to the sun's
rays.
"Children and youths who rarely venture outside are at risk of
suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, especially in winter," warns
Fegeler.
Severe vitamin D deficiency can lead to decalcification of the
bones and growth defects caused by rickets.
According to the Robert Koch Institute - Germany's central federal
institution responsible for disease control and prevention - longterm
vitamin D deficiency causes muscular problems, heart and circulation
issues and weaknesses in the body's immune system.
Around 80 per cent of a body's vitamin D requirements are produced
through the skin after exposure to ultraviolet B light from the sun
or artificial sources, although it also occurs naturally in a small
range of foodstuffs.
An appropriate diet as well as exposure to daylight is important.
"Mushrooms and avocados as well as fish such as salmon and mackerel
contain a lot of vitamin D," explains Fegeler.
The recommended intake for children over one-year-old is five
micrograms of calciferole (vitamin D). This amount can be achieved
through eating a 150-gram portion of fish per week, 250g of mushrooms
per day or 30g of salmon.
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